F-16 History

The first F-16 to arrive with the 112th FS was a two-seat model, F-16D #83-1175, which was the first F-16D to come off the production line at Fort Worth. It came from the 312th TFTS at Luke AFB on the rare leap year date February 29th, 1992. F-16s continued to arrive and the last A-7D departed on May 18th, 1992. Many of the block 25s that came from Shaw AFB, South Carolina were Desert Storm veterans. During the conversion the squadron changed names on March 15, 1992 from the 112th Tactical Fighter Squadron to the 112th Fighter Squadron.

The squadron didn't operate the block 25 for very long. Starting in very early 1994 the squadron gave up its block 25s, which it had only flown for a year, for the much more modern block 42s. The block 25s were sent to various units but mostly to Luke AFB, Arizona. A large amount of the block 42s came from Shaw AFB, South Carolina where that base was converting to the block 50.

USAF F-16C block 25 #84-1283 from the 112th FS is parked on a sunny day at Toledo IAP in August of 1992. [Photo by Dirk A. Geerts]

Very early on in block 42 operations, the 112th FS had an unusual mishap in which F-16C #89-2091 had a main gear collapse. It slid off the runway, across two taxiways and eventually accross the civilian ramp stopping immediately in front of the doors of the port authority fire department. The pilot was fine and the aircraft repaired.

During the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure committees meetings the 112th FS was at risk of being closed down. With two F-16 squadrons in the state of Ohio meant pretty high odds that one of the two would be closed. The end resulted announcement stated that the 162nd FS would be closed while the 112th FS in the end would gain additional aircraft.

In August of 2008 the 112th FS took over the alert role for the region from the near by 107th FS which was converting to the A-10 in the next year. The 112th FS officially took over on October 2nd, 2008.

USAF F-16C block 42 #89-2051 of the 112th FS photographed at the Grayling Air Gunnery Range on October 23rd, 2007. [Photo by Ralph Duenas]

Aircraft Markings History

1992 - 2006

The tailscheme consisted of the 'OH' tailcode with the serial beneath it. The top of the tail was adorned with a green tailband with white 'Toledo' stencilling.

2006 - present

The tailband remained the same, but the tailcode was placed higher on the tail, just beneath the tailband. A toned-down squadron logo was placed at the center of the tail. The scheme was introduced gradually from 2004 onwards.

Unit History

1917: Activation of the squadron in Kelly Field, Texas

1917: No aircraft assigned

1919: Disbanded

1927: Activation of the squadron in Hopkins, Ohio

1927: PT-1 'Trusty'

1940: O-47 (Pope Field, North Carolina)

1941: O-47 (part of 65 OG, Dover Field, Delaware)

1942: O-47 (Georgetown AP, South Carolina)

1942: B-24 'Liberator' (Lantana AP, Florida)

1942: B-24 'Liberator' (Birmingham AP, Alabama)

1943: B-24 'Liberator' (Salinas AAB, California)

1943: B-24 'Liberator' (part of 10 RG, Redmond AAB, Oregon)

1943: B-24 'Liberator' (Corvallis AAB, Oregon)

1944: B-24 'Liberator' (Portland AAB, Oregon)

1944: B-24 'Liberator' (RAF Kingston Deverill [Eng.])

1944: B-24 'Liberator' (RAF Hurst Park [Eng.])

1944: B-24 'Liberator' (RAF Heston [Eng.])

1944: B-24 'Liberator' (Jullouville AB [Fr.])

1944: B-24 'Liberator' (Buc AB [Fr.])

1945: B-24 'Liberator' (Frankfurt [Germ.])

1945: B-24 'Liberator' (Drew Field, Florida)

1945: Disbanded

1950: Activation of the squadron in Lawson, Georgia

1950: A-26B/C 'Invader'

1952: F-51H 'Mustang' (Akron-Canton MAP, Ohio)

1954: F-51H 'Mustang' (Toledo MAP, Ohio)

1956: F-84E 'Thunderjet'

1959: F-84F 'Thunderstreak'

1962: F-84F 'Thunderstreak' (part of 180 TFG)

1971: F-100D/F 'Super Sabre'

1979: A-7D/K 'Corsair II'

1991: F-16C/D 'Fighting Falcon'

1992: F-16C/D 'Fighting Falcon' (part of 180 FG)

1995: F-16C/D 'Fighting Falcon' (part of 180 FW)

Deployments

As part of their first of a few 'Rainbow' deployments for the combination of 112th FS, 124th FS and 125th FS. The squadron was sent for Operation Provide Comfort II but this changed names just before their return in January of 1997. Each squadron took eight aircraft.

'Northern Watch'

Incirlik AB, Turkey (March of 1998 to May of 1998)

This was the second tour of the so-called 'Rainbow' deployments for the 112th FS. This time the deployment was shared with the 125th FS.

'Northern Watch'

Incirlik AB, Turkey (September of 1999 to November of 1999)

As third in a row, the squadron was again sent to Turkey for another Northern Watch mission. This time it was carried out by only the squadron without any other units joining them.

'Sourthern Watch'

Al Jaber AB, Kuwait (July 16th, 2001 to August 16th, 2001)

The first and only Operation Southern Watch deployment for the 112th FS saw 300 airman deployed, split with 150 for the first half of the deployment and 150 for the second half of the deployment. Included aircraft and members from the 124th and 125th Fighter Squadrons.

'Northern Watch'

Incirlik AB, Turkey (September of 2002 to December 2nd, 2002)

Only months before the US invaded Iraq again, the 112th FS was tasked again to deploy to Turkey for another Operation Northern Watch mission. This time, arounf 200 airman were deployed to Incirlik AB.

Six F-16s from the 125th FS were also sent and were shared making a total of twelve. One aircraft was lost along with Lt.Col. Kevin Sonnenberg on June 16th, 2007. Two more 125th FS F-16s were sent on June 25th, 2007 intended to replace the one lost. Members of the 112th FS were replaced by the 125th FS in early July.

'Iraqi Freedom'

Balad AB, Iraq (September 18th, 2008 to January 11th, 2009)

Around 250 men from the Ohio ANG deployed to Iraq for their scheduled rotation to the desert. The members from Toledo were covering the second portion of the deployment and had already sent aircraft with the 125th FS back on September 18th. It was felt that the deployment was too short to have a patch made, so there is no patch for this deployment.